Henry Fonda
Birthday: 16 May 1905, Grand Island, Nebraska, USA
Birth Name: Henry Jaynes Fonda
Height: 187 cm
Henry Jaynes Fonda was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Elma Herberta (Jaynes) and William Brace Fonda, who worked in advertising and printing. His recent ancestry included Dutch, English, and Scott ...Show More
I've been close to Bette Davis for thirty-eight years - and I have the cigarette burns to prove it.
I've been close to Bette Davis for thirty-eight years - and I have the cigarette burns to prove it.
I don't really like myself. Never did. People mix me up with the characters I play. I'm not a great Show more
I don't really like myself. Never did. People mix me up with the characters I play. I'm not a great guy like Doug Roberts [in 'Mister Roberts']. I'd like to be but I'm not. Hide
If there is something in my eyes, a kind of honesty in the face, then I guess you could say that's t Show more
If there is something in my eyes, a kind of honesty in the face, then I guess you could say that's the man I'd like to be, the man I want to be. Hide
[on War and Peace (1956) and referring to author of book Leo Tolstoy] When I first agreed to do it, Show more
[on War and Peace (1956) and referring to author of book Leo Tolstoy] When I first agreed to do it, the screenplay by Irwin Shaw was fine, but what happened? King Vidor used to go home nights with his wife and rewrite it. All the genius of Tolstoy went out the window. Hide
I don't want to just sell war bonds. I want to be a sailor.
I don't want to just sell war bonds. I want to be a sailor.
At a roast for Bette Davis, after many references to her chain smoking, Fonda said we really didn't Show more
At a roast for Bette Davis, after many references to her chain smoking, Fonda said we really didn't mean to burn down the sets on Jezebel, but there was Bette and those damned cigarettes, which resulted in uproarious laughter. Hide
I can't articulate about the Method because I never studied it. I don't mean to suggest that I have Show more
I can't articulate about the Method because I never studied it. I don't mean to suggest that I have any feelings one way or the other about it. I don't know what the Method is and I don't care what the Method is. Everybody's got a method. Everybody can't articulate about their method, and I can't, if I have a method - and Jane sometimes says that I use the Method, that is, the capital letter Method, without being aware of it. Maybe I do, it doesn't matter. Hide
I look like my father. To this day, when I walk past a mirror and see my reflection in it, my first Show more
I look like my father. To this day, when I walk past a mirror and see my reflection in it, my first impression is: That's my father. There is a strong Fonda look. Hide
[on director John Ford] It has to do with the fact that Ford, for all his greatness, is an Irish ego Show more
[on director John Ford] It has to do with the fact that Ford, for all his greatness, is an Irish egomaniac, as anyone who knows him will say. Hide
[about director Sergio Leone] Next to Clint Eastwood's father, he personally had done more for 'Clin Show more
[about director Sergio Leone] Next to Clint Eastwood's father, he personally had done more for 'Clint Eastwood' than anyone else." Hide
[on Marlon Brando] I don't think there's anybody better when he wants to be good.
[on Marlon Brando] I don't think there's anybody better when he wants to be good.
[on Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda, 1976] "I didn't help or discourage them or lead them by the hand. I' Show more
[on Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda, 1976] "I didn't help or discourage them or lead them by the hand. I'm not trying to set myself up as a good father, because I wasn't a good father. But I think I knew instinctively that if they did make it, they would like to know they'd done it on their own. I recognise all the problems my children have had, and I don't claim any credit for what they've become. They've become what they are in spite of me." Hide
Money must be, I guess, what first took me to Hollywood. When I first came out, I certainly had NO a Show more
Money must be, I guess, what first took me to Hollywood. When I first came out, I certainly had NO ambition to make pictures. Hide
Baby it out. That's an old marble shooter's expression for approaching your target cautiosly instead Show more
Baby it out. That's an old marble shooter's expression for approaching your target cautiosly instead of trying to take it out with one shot. Hide
I hope you won't be disappointed. You see I am not a very interesting person. I haven't ever done an Show more
I hope you won't be disappointed. You see I am not a very interesting person. I haven't ever done anything except be other people. I ain't really Henry Fonda! Nobody could be. Nobody could have that much integrity. Hide
[speaking in 1978] I guess I go overboard to avoid taking credit for the image I have. That's why it Show more
[speaking in 1978] I guess I go overboard to avoid taking credit for the image I have. That's why it's easier to live with myself. I don't feel I'm totally a man of integrity. Hide
I'm not that pristine pure, I guess I've broken as many rules as the next feller. But I reckon my fa Show more
I'm not that pristine pure, I guess I've broken as many rules as the next feller. But I reckon my face looks honest enough and if people buy it, Hallelujah. Hide
The beat actors do not let the wheels show.
The beat actors do not let the wheels show.
[on John Ford] He was so egomaniacal. He would never rehearse, didn't want to talk about a part. If Show more
[on John Ford] He was so egomaniacal. He would never rehearse, didn't want to talk about a part. If an actor started to ask questions he'd either take those pages and tear them out of the script or insult him in an awful way. He loved getting his shot on the first take, which for him meant it was fresh. He would print the first take -- even if it wasn't any good. Hide
I don't want to be in a fake war in a studio.
I don't want to be in a fake war in a studio.
[on John Ford] He had instinctively a beautiful eye for the camera. But he was also an egomaniac.
[on John Ford] He had instinctively a beautiful eye for the camera. But he was also an egomaniac.
[on stage acting] Anyone who gives the same performance he gave on opening night is not doing a good Show more
[on stage acting] Anyone who gives the same performance he gave on opening night is not doing a good job. Unless a performance is growing constantly, unless the actor is finding new insights into the character, he must grow stale. Hide
Henry Fonda's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (79)
Henry Fonda'S roles
Jack Beauregard
Lt. Col. Dan Kiley
President
Gil Carter
Wyatt Earp
Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
Juror 8
Norman Thayer Jr.
Peter Ames
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz
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